Jason Hughes – A weekend to forget - 13/04/04

Having competed in his Production class Nissan Primera towards the end of last season, Thruxton marked the debut for Jason Hughes and the Kartworld Racing team in the BTCC’s Premier League. The 34 year old from Preston, Lancashire has previously raced saloons at club level, including several seasons in the Super Coupé Cup, but the BTCC was always going to bring a new challenge.

The team, which is running an ex-works MG ZS, did not enjoy the best of starts to the new season, as Hughes explains: “It’s not been a good one to start the season really. In the first race we ran out of petrol, which was unfortunate. The second one was a bit better; we were eighth in class and 12th overall. That wasn’t a bad result.”

“Then in the third race Tom Chilton went off and hit me as he came back on to the track. He was off on the grass and then I think he managed to get grip back and just hit the back of me, sending me off backwards at Church.”

The Kartworld Racing team is receiving technical assistance from West Surrey Racing but is continuing to learn the workings of the MG ZS: “We didn’t find out until after qualifying that the way we had the back of the car set up wasn’t right. So we altered that and then things were a lot better.”

Hughes had not driven the Thruxton circuit for a number of years, and despite the difficulties encountered over the weekend, he remains upbeat when looking at the season to come: “I think the race format has worked well. It’s been a weekend that I won’t miss much though. It has been hard work but it has got us noticed at least, which should keep the sponsors happy. It will be good to move on to Brands though as it’s a circuit I know well.”

Photography: Peter Still (www.stillphotography.co.uk)